Quantum Foundations

PhD course on the foundations of Quantum Mechanics

Fall 2012

Quantum Theory is an enormously successful theory from a practical point of view. It correctly predicts both non-relativistic and relativistic phenomena to extraordinary precision and has driven major technological developments such as the laser, superconductivity and micro-circuitry. Recent experimental advances show coherence and entanglement of quantum systems routinely. And yet, even after more than a century, nobody seems to understand quantum mechanics. What are the properties that distinguish quantum systems from classical systems? Is the quantum-mechanical description complete? What does it describe?

This seminar series is not intended to explain quantum mechanics, but rather to expose the difficulties. There will be three themes: the building blocks of quantum mechanics, the difference between quantum and classical systems, and questions of interpretation.

Place

The seminars will take place Thursdays at 15:15 in Signalen, and take (nominally) one hour. Any changes in this will be announced. Let me know if you want to receive such announcements by email.

The seminars will contain (subject to change):

  1. (20 Sept) Basic notions, black-body radiation, the photoelectric effect, quantization, matrix mechanics, undulatory (wave) mechanics
  2. (27 Sept) More on matrix mechanics, complex amplitudes, harmonic oscillator, the canonical commutation relation, derivative operators, equations of motion, comparison with wave mechanics
  3. (4 Oct) The Born rule, Dirac’s notation (modern QM), uncertainty relation(s), complementarity
  4. (11 Oct) The Einstein-Bohr debate on consistency, completeness and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen argument
  5. (18 Oct) von Neumann’s impossibility theorem, Bell’s theorem, local hidden variables, entanglement, quantum “nonlocality”, experimental tests and their problems
  6. (1 Nov) Contextual hidden-variable models, existence of properties as separate entities, joint measurability, the Kochen-Specker theorem, Gleason’s theorem
  7. (8 Nov) Entanglement, Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger, quantum teleportation, quantum bomb-testing, quantum Zeno effect
  8. (15 Nov) The measurement problem, von Neumann’s measurement paradigm, generalized measurements, decoherence models, the quantum-classical “cut”, dynamical collapse models, Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber
  9. (6 Dec) The recent experiment that rules out the fair sampling loophole for entangled photons
  10. (24 January) de Broglie-Bohmian mechanics, non-local hidden variables, Everett, the many-worlds interpretation, the problem of probability therein, quantum Bayesianism, subjective quantum states

Since I know that there will be participants with little formal knowledge of quantum mechanics, I will explain the needed theory as we proceed. Some knowledge of probability theory, linear algebra, and complex numbers will be enough to follow most of the discussion.

PhD-level course on the foundations of Quantum Mechanics

This seminar series can be used as a course for PhD students, at a nominal size of 6 hp. The examination would consist of reading, presenting and discussing a recent (or important) paper in the field. Contact me for details.

Examination assignments

The assignment is to read and present a paper, say a fifteen-twenty-minute presentation followed by discussion. Some suggestions (some are really good papers, some are not):

More may appear. You are free to suggest papers yourselves.

Extra reading

Max Planck, “On the Law of Distribution of Energy in the Normal Spectrum (English translation)”, Annalen der Physik, 4:553, 1901

A. Einstein, “Concerning an Heuristic Point of View Toward the Emission and Transformation of Light”, Annalen der Physik, 17:132, 1905

N. Bohr, “On the Constitution of Atoms and Molecules, Part I. - Binding of Electrons by Positive Nuclei”, Philos. Mag., 26:1, 1913

N. Bohr, “On the Constitution of Atoms and Molecules, Part II. - Systems containing only a Single Nucleus”, Philos. Mag., 26:476, 1913

Arthur H. Compton, “A quantum theory of the scattering of X-rays by light elements”, Phys. Rev., 21:483, 1923

W. Heisenberg, “Quantum-theoretical re-interpretation of kinematic and mechanical relations (English translation)”, Zeitschrift fr Physik, 33:879, 1925

W. A. Fedak and J. Prentis, “The 1925 Born and Jordan paper “On quantum mechanics””, Am. J. Phys., 77:128, 2009

E. Schrdinger, “Quantisierung als Eigenwertproblem”, Annalen der Physik, 79:361-376, 1926

E. Schrdinger, “On the relation between the quantum mechanics of Heisenberg, Born Jordan, and that of Schrdinger (English translation)”, Annalen der Physik, 79, 1926

E. Schrdinger, “An undulatory theory of the mechanics of atoms and molecules”, Phys. Rev., 28:1049, 1926

M. Born, “On the quantum mechanics of collisions (English translation)”, Zeitschrift fr Physik, 37:863-867, 1926

W. Heisenberg, “ber den anschaulichen inhalt der quantenteoretischen kinematik und mechanik”, Zeitschrift fr Physik, 43:172-198, 1927

N. Bohr, “Discussions with Einstein on Epistemological Problems in Atomic Physics”, Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist, 1949

A. Einstein, “Einstein’s Reply to Criticisms”, Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist, 1949

J. von Neumann, “Mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics (English translation)”, 209, 295-328, Princeton univ. press, 1955

J. S. Bell, “On the Problem of Hidden Variables in Quantum Mechanics”, Reviews of Modern Physics, 38:447-452, 1966